1936 - 2008
Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most influential designers of the 20th century, died on Sunday after a year long battle with brain cancer.
The 71-year-old designer was part of a generation of designers including Christian Dior and Coc Canel that made Paris the fashion capital of the world. His designs have been said to empower women throughout the world. He once said: “Fashion is not only supposed to make women beautiful, but to reassure them, to give them confidence, to allow them to come to terms with themselves.''
Tributes have been pouring in from all over the fashion world with Tommy Hillfiger describing his sadness at the loss of a “creative genius” and a “legendary talent.” Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa said Laurent had “revolutionized modern fashion” while France's Prime Minister said Laurent had “contributed to France's influence in the world.”
Yves Saint Laurent was born Aug. 1, 1936, in Algeria. He first emerged as a promising designer at the age of 17, winning first prize in a contest sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat for a cocktail dress design.
After only three months as a student he was introduced to Christian Dior, then regarded as the greatest creator of his day. Dior was so impressed with Saint Laurent's talent that he hired him on the spot. When Dior died suddenly in 1957, Saint Laurent was named head of the House of Dior at the age of 21.
In 1962 he opened his own haute couture fashion house with Berge. The pair later started a chain of Rive Gauche ready-to-wear boutiques. Saint Laurent's simple androgynous designs were his hallmarks. His navy blue pea coat over white pants, his smoking jacket remade the tux as a high fashion statement for both sexes. Beatnik chic also came in the sixties. Showing that women could wear tailored men's clothes became a statement.
In 1983 the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted a show to his work, the first ever to a living designer and in 1985 he was awarded the Legion d'Honneur. Rive-Gauche, his ready-to-wear label was sold to Gucci in 1999 for $70 million cash and royalties, still has boutiques around the world.
When Saint Laurent announced his retirement in 2002 and the closure of the Paris-based haute couture house, it was mourned in the fashion world as the end of an era.
The 71-year-old designer was part of a generation of designers including Christian Dior and Coc Canel that made Paris the fashion capital of the world. His designs have been said to empower women throughout the world. He once said: “Fashion is not only supposed to make women beautiful, but to reassure them, to give them confidence, to allow them to come to terms with themselves.''
Tributes have been pouring in from all over the fashion world with Tommy Hillfiger describing his sadness at the loss of a “creative genius” and a “legendary talent.” Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa said Laurent had “revolutionized modern fashion” while France's Prime Minister said Laurent had “contributed to France's influence in the world.”
Yves Saint Laurent was born Aug. 1, 1936, in Algeria. He first emerged as a promising designer at the age of 17, winning first prize in a contest sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat for a cocktail dress design.
After only three months as a student he was introduced to Christian Dior, then regarded as the greatest creator of his day. Dior was so impressed with Saint Laurent's talent that he hired him on the spot. When Dior died suddenly in 1957, Saint Laurent was named head of the House of Dior at the age of 21.
In 1962 he opened his own haute couture fashion house with Berge. The pair later started a chain of Rive Gauche ready-to-wear boutiques. Saint Laurent's simple androgynous designs were his hallmarks. His navy blue pea coat over white pants, his smoking jacket remade the tux as a high fashion statement for both sexes. Beatnik chic also came in the sixties. Showing that women could wear tailored men's clothes became a statement.
In 1983 the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted a show to his work, the first ever to a living designer and in 1985 he was awarded the Legion d'Honneur. Rive-Gauche, his ready-to-wear label was sold to Gucci in 1999 for $70 million cash and royalties, still has boutiques around the world.
When Saint Laurent announced his retirement in 2002 and the closure of the Paris-based haute couture house, it was mourned in the fashion world as the end of an era.
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